Orioles' Davis goes 0-for-49, sets record for consecutive hitless at-bats
Chris Davis stands alone in the annals of baseball futility.
The Baltimore Orioles first baseman flew out in his third at-bat Monday to set a new major-league record for consecutive hitless at-bats by a non-pitcher. His streak - now at 0-for-49 after striking out in the seventh and eighth innings - dates back to last season.
0-for-47...
— Stadium (@Stadium) April 9, 2019
Chris Davis now holds the record for the longest hitless streak by a position player in MLB history. #Birdland pic.twitter.com/33N4virHF0
Davis broke the mark that was previously held by Eugenio Velez, who went 0-for-46 over the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
| Player | Team(s) | Year(s) | Hitless ABs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Davis | Orioles | 2018-19 | 49* |
| Eugenio Velez | SF/LAD | 2010-11 | 46 |
| Bill Bergen | Superbas | 1909 | 45 |
| Dave Campbell | SD/STL/HOU | 1973 | 45 |
| Craig Counsell | Brewers | 2011 | 45 |
*Through Monday
(Courtesy: Elias Sports Bureau)
Davis' most recent hit was a double off James Shields of the Chicago White Sox last Sept. 14. He last homered on Aug. 24.
Over the course of his ongoing hitless streak, Davis has struck out 28 times and was punched out at least once in all but two games during this run. He's managed to reach base eight times - six walks, a hit by pitch, and a fielder's choice - and owns a pair of RBIs. This season alone he's gone 0-for-28.
However, there might have been a few signs of life on Monday. Three of the four outs Davis made against Oakland were fly balls, and his fifth-inning fly out that set the record reached the warning track.
"He hit three balls on the nose," manager Brandon Hyde said following Baltimore's 12-4 win, according to MASN's Roch Kubatko. "The first three at-bats were really good, so I'm taking that as a positive moving forward. How about the defense he played? Made a diving play, made a couple really nice plays, so he helped us win the game.
"Tough to put yourself in his shoes and what he's going through and I admire him for being out there and playing his butt off and throwing the defense out there that he's throwing out there. So good for him."
Davis, who was cheered by the record-low crowd at Camden Yards each time he came to the plate, has also failed to record a hit in 56 consecutive plate appearances. He's now just one shy of tying the record set by Cleveland's Tony Bernazard in 1984, according to Dan Connolly of The Athletic.
The 33-year-old, who led the league in home runs twice earlier in his career, is under contract with the Orioles through 2022 at a salary of $23 million per season. According to Cot's Contracts, $42 million of Davis' remaining salary is deferred, with payments scheduled to continue through July 1, 2037.